Cigar



Dec. 27, 1932. LANKERlNG 7 1,892,402

CIGAR Filed May 11, 1931 INVENTOR fl'ml Za/zlairy bacco, such Patented Dec. 27, 1932 FREDERICK LANKERING, or rA'r'ER'soN', new Jnasnir CIGAR Appnoaticn flied ma 11, 1931.

' My present invention relates generally to cigars, and has particular reference to an improved construction of blunt-end cigars.

IKWhile-the quality and calibre of a cigar isdependentalmost entirely upon the type and origin of tobacco which enters into its construction, the enjoyment of a'cigar by the average smoker is readily influenced and often impaired by totally extraneous factors, as, for example, by the freshness of the cigar, the compactness with which it'is rolled,,etc. Accordingly, there is a popular misconception that cigars of long filler areof a better quality than those having a so-called short filler, i. e., one composed of relatively short shreds and pieces of tobacco. This misconception is due in a large measure to the fact that during the smoking of a short filler cigar, pieces of the filler are apt to work loose and not only impair the strength and firmness of the cigar at the smoking end, but also to an-v the smoker by escapin'g outwardly noy I through this end. As a matter of fact, however, a short filler cigar of relatively. good tobe superiorin quality to a long filler cigar constructed of relatively inferior tobaccos, such as many of the domestic brands.

It is a general object of my present invention to provide a cigar construction which 18 of improved strength and compactness and which retains its shape and firm character even under the most severe conditions, so that, when the invention is applied to a short filler cigar of high quality tobacco, the smoker may be enabled fully to enjoy and appreciate. the true quality of the cigar, Without being adversely influenced by weakness of structure. Although, in many respects, my invention is equally applicable to cigars of long filler, it is of particular advantage and utility in connection with short filler cigars. \Vith respect to such cigars, it is a more particular object of my invention to provide a construction which compactly retains the filler in position under all conditions, greatly minimizing, if notentirely preventing, any

annoyance to the smoker which might be due to loosening of the filler and consequent esas Cuban tobacco, may actually Serial No;- 536,359.

the smoking end of the cigar.

cape of shreds or pieces of tobacco through v It is a more particular object of in? vention to provide a cigar construction which retains its firmness and shape even 5 after it becomesdried. Theundesirable drying of cigars is a problem constantly confronting the cigar manufacturer since the initial moisture content is limited to an.

amount which will not result in subsequent mildew. It is especially desirable toim'aintain thestrength and staunchness of a short filler cigar because a drying out of such a cigar results almost immediately in aloosen-- ing of the filler particles.

The problems of cigar-construction and manufacture, hereinbefore illustratively mentioned, are especially difficult to overcome inblunt-end cigars wherein the body of the cigar is substantially cylindrical and untapered and whereinthe wrapper has aportionqwhich completely envelops-one of the ends of the cylinder; If a cigar of this character dries unduly, the wrapperatthe smoking end is likely to crack and loosen the entire construction, andlthis'is likely to occur not only when the cigar is manipulated but even under the pressure conditions which obtain while theficigar is closely packedwith others-within a box. Where the filler is a short filler,.undesired cracking of this character is obviouslydoubly annoying and likely to'completelygdestroy thesmokers enjoyment V v of the cigar.

One of the features of present invention lies in constructing a blunt-end cigar in a manner whereby-such cracking of the wrapper-is prevented and wherein the filler, espe-v cially adjacent to the smoking endof the cigar, is under all conditions snugly and com- 1 pactly retained in'proper position.

z"; A more particular feature of my invention lies in providing acylindrical body of filler with a longitudinal hole at one end, and in provlding a wrapper whose end portion-ex tends alongv a smooth curvature around the blunt end of the cigar and thence part-way into the hole, thereby lining thelatter. This end portionof the wrapper forms an annu- 10 lar pocket within which the filler adjacent 'fied in the 15 i to the smoking end of the cigar is compacted and held under all conditions.

A further feature of my invention lies in providing a cigar construction of the foregoing character wherein a reinforcement plug is removably associated with the smoking end of the cigar to seal the hole referred to and to engage the-wrapper in a peculiarly eflicient manner.

I achieve the foregoing objects and advantages, and such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in

accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is an enlarged elevational view, partly'in section and partly broken away, to illustrate my present construction prior to the application of a plug of the present character;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing my completed construct-ion as the factory;

Figure 3 is a similar view, on a slightly reduced scale, showing the cigar as it may be smoked; and i r v Figure 4 is a view similar to the right end of Figure 2, illustrating a modification.

Referring particularly to Figure 3, I have shown a body of filler 10, which may be either short or long, and which is substantially cylindrical throughout its entire length'and untapered. In 'oneendof this body, I provide atapered longitudinal hole 11 which flares outwardly toward the end of the cigar and whose wallsare convexly shaped so 1 as to merge along a smooth curvature with the blunt end of the body 10; A binder 12 is wrapped around the body 10 and terminates short of the blunt end thereof, and a wrapper 13'encircles the binder 12 and has an end portion 14 which extends around the blunt end along a smooth curvature and thence partway into the hole 11, as indicated at 15. The end portions 15 of the wrapper 13 serve as a lining for the outlet'end of the opening 11, and also define an annular pocket 16 which surrounds the lining 15. This annular pocket is substantially Ushaped in cross-section and is adapted snugly and compactly to hold the end portion of position. 7 a

The manner of constructing the cigar of Figure 3 is, of course, optional, but I prefer to proceed as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. In Figure l, the filler body 10 has been encircled by the binder .12, and the wrapper 13 and the end portion 14: ofthe wrapper has been caused to envelopi and overlie the entire rear blunt endof the body 10, being held in position by any suitable adhesive or the like, as is customary in the trade. Thereupon, a reinforcementplug 17 is inserted into the cigar construction. This plug may be of any suitable material, preferably unvarnished wood, and its construction is'ofa peculiar and novel the manner illustratively exempli cigar leaves the the filler body 10 in proper character which provides a substantially circular head 18 and a tapered shank 19. The outer surface of the head 18 is gently convex, whereas the under surface of the head is gently concaved. The shank 19 is concavely contoured so as to merge along a smooth and predetermined curvature with the concaved under surface of the headl8.

lVhen the plug is applied it will assume the position of Figure 2, simultaneously pro-vidingthe hole 11 previously mentioned and also engaging the wrapper end 14 to deflect the latter inwardly to form the pocket previously mentioned and to provide the lining 15. The particular shape of the plug results in a stretching of the wrapper in a longitudinal direction whereby-a greater length of draft opening is lined with wrapper than would be lined if also be'noted that the outer surface of the head 18 forms a substantially. smooth continuationof the wrapper at the rear end of the cigar where the wrapper merges along a gentle curvature with the marginal portion of the blunt end. I l. p

The mode ofconstruction herein illustrated and described is particularly advantageous in connection with short filler cigars because the application of the plug 17 compresses and compacts the filler particles adjacent tothe smoking end of the cigar, forcing them snug ly and in compressed condition into the pocket 16 hereinbefore referred to, I

The construction of Figure 2 illustrates the manner in. which the cigar leaves the factory and is packed and shipped, and, it remains in this condition until the ultimate user purchases it. Regardless of the pressure to which the cigar may be subjected during packing or storage, and regardless of the relative dryness of the cigar (which is likely to occur even under the most favorable conditions-of care) cracking of the wrapper is practically prevented since the concaved under surface of the head 18 firmly engages and contacts with the wrapperat all times and holds the same in the pocket-forming and hole-lining condition illustrated. I might ,mention that any attempt to apply a plug of the character illustrated into thesmoking end of any other type of cigar, as, for eXample, an open-ended cheroot, or any cigar having a tapered end,

Vwould result almostimmediately in splitting the cigar or in an ultimate cracking of the wrapper andsplitting ofthe cigar construction assoon as the initial moisture content dries out. -The present construction, however, has no such disadvantageous effects, and, quite to the contrary, produces an improved firmness and staunchness at the outset, which is retained under allsubsequent conditions, this bein'gdue to the manner in which theend portion of the wrapper is firmly engaged by the reinforcement plug and held in the positional relationship illustrated;

nostretching took place. It will I Obviously, the partially lined hole 11 constitutes a preformed draft opening for the cigar after the plug 17 is removed, such removal being readily accomplished by the ultimate user by merely'inserting the nails of his thumb and forefinger underneath opposite portions of the head 18.

The cigar of Figure 3, when smoked, may be fully enjoyed without any annoyance whatever regardless of whether the fillerris short or long and regardless of the moisture content or moisture absence of the construction. Not only will the wrapper remain intact throughout the entire process of smoking, but the filler, especially near and adjacent to the smoking end, will remain constantly in predetermined proper position. I

In Figure 4, I have illustrated a slight modification in which the reinforcement plug has a head 20 with a blunted rim 21, and wherein the shank has a medial portion 22 which is substantiallyv cylindrical. The body of the shank, however, is concaved, as shown at 23', this surface merging with the concave undersurface of the head 20 for the purposes hereinbeforc specified. The wrapper is held in predetermined position, as in Figure 2, and the construction is otherwise the same as Figure 2. The plug shape of Figure 1 may, under certain circumstances, be preferable to that of Figure 2, the cylindrical portion 22 serving to prevent undesired expulsion of the plug under the pressure of other cigars in a box. ful removal of the plug when the cigar is to be smoked.

Since the term blunt end signifies the burning end of a cigar, it will be understood that wherever this term has been used herein 7 it is intended to designatethe rear or smoking end. The shape of the burning end is entirely immaterial so far as the present invention is concerned. 7 It will be obvious that changes in the details herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of my invention maybe made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. It is therefore intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A blunt end clgar having 111 combinati on, a cylindrical body of short filler having an untapered blunt end and adapted to define the smoking end of the cigar, a binder around said body of filler and terminating substantially at the blunt end of the filler, a wrapper around said binder and blunt end, means defining an opening in said blunt end, a draft opening forming plug in said opening, said wrapper when stretched to surround the and the rim 21 facilitating the purpose-- blunt end constituting said draft opening de f fining means, the said wrapper being adaptportion of the filler adjacent the draft opening being compacted by said wrapper, and

further compacted by the insertion of the plug.

2. The invention defined in claim l wherein the plug comprises a blunt pointed shank,

and a head, there being a medial cylindrical shank portion adjacent the head.

blunt end constituting said draft opening defining means, the said wrapper being adapted V 3; A bluntend cigar'having in comb-ina tion, a cylindrical body of short filler having to be stretched and forced into said opening by said plug, the end of said wrapper defining said opening lying in a plane substantially coincident with the plane of the ad jacent end of the binder, andforming a lining for the outer end portion of said opening,

that portion of the filler adjacent said draft opening being compacted by said wrapper,

' and further compacted by the insertion of the plug.

In witness whereof, I V have signed and sealed this specification this 2d day of May,

= FREDERICK LANKEBING. 

